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Published: 20 December 2005

Share of high technology products of exports declined further

The value of Finnish exports of high technology products was approximately EUR 8.5 billion in 2004. The value declined by EUR 750 million, or eight per cent, from the previous year. Compared to 2000, exports of high technology products have fallen by 26 per cent. High technology products accounted for 17.5 per cent of all exports. Finland imported high technology products to the value of good EUR 5.6 billion in 2004. Imports went up for the first time since 2000, and the growth from the previous year amounted to EUR 300 million, or six per cent. The share of high technology products of all imports was 14 per cent.

Electronics and telecommunications equipment accounted for EUR 6.9 billion, or four-fifths, of the value of exports of high technology products in 2004. The second largest product group was scientific instruments. The value of their exports has stayed at around EUR 850 million in recent years. In terms of value (EUR 300 million), the third largest group of export goods was computers and office machinery. As with exports, electronics and telecommunications equipment was also the largest group of imported products with its value of EUR 2.7 billion. Computers and office machinery were also imported to the value of EUR 1.2 billion. Likewise, both scientific instruments and electrical machinery were major product groups both of which were imported to a value exceeding EUR 0.5 billion.

In 2004, the surplus in Finland's foreign trade in high technology products was almost EUR 3 billion and the export-import ratio was 1.51. As late as in 1991, the respective ratio was just 0.52. The balance in high technology foreign trade has been strongly positive since 1995, when the value of exports exceeded that of imports for the first time.

Value of foreign trade in high technology products in 1991-2004

Source: National Board of Customs; High technology foreign trade, Statistics Finland

Inquiries: Mr Tero Luhtala +358 9 1734 3327, tiede.teknologia@stat.fi

Director in charge: Kaija Hovi

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Last updated 20.12.2005